Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, is the one day a year where Americans come together to show their appreciation for the many good things in their lives. From enjoying time with family and friends to celebrating success at work, come 23 November, American families will be gathered around the table to offer up thanks for their good fortune.

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The holiday came about at the founding of the nation, with the landing of the Mayflower in 1620. Pilgrims from England sailed across the atlantic in search of a new life with greater freedom. In the beginning they struggled, but with the guidance of the Native American Indians they soon began to thrive. After the end of the harvest, they invited the Native American Indians to come share a meal with them, as a gesture of their thanks and gratitude.

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But celebrating and giving thanks for a good year is not only an American tradition...

It's actually a custom that is celebrated in a variety of ways by a number of different cultures. To help, the experts at language learning app Babbel have detailed some of the most fascinating Thanksgiving celebrations from around the world, showing that this really is a global tradition.

1. Germany: Erntedankfest

The Erntedankfest, or Harvest Festival, takes place on the first Sunday after each year's Michaelmas, celebrated annually on September 29th. The celebration begins with a sermon, followed by a procession, at the end of which the Ernteknigin (Queen of Harvest) is presented with a crown. Afterwards, there is plenty of music, dancing and the eating of fruit and vegetables from the harvest. While the celebrations aren't as family-focused as the ones in the States, the leftover food is given away to those in need. The Germans also don't favour turkey, instead opting for chicken, which is especially chosen and fattened up before the feast.

2. Brazil: Day of Thanksgivings

Up until 1949, Brazil held a religious celebration in thanks for the harvest that year. On a visit to the United States, the ambassador of Brazil, Joaquim Nabuco, took inspiration from the American Thanksgiving holiday. Bringing his learnings back home, he melded the American traditions with the local Brazilian festival to create what is now known as Dia de Ao de Graas – a day of giving thanks. Celebrated on the same day as Thanksgiving in the States, not all Brazilians participate in the festival, as it is not an officially recognised holiday in Brazil. Those that do celebrate, however, eat turkey and stuffing, along with pumpkin pie and sweet or mashed potatoes. The fundamental part of the day, however, remains making time to spend with family and friends.

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3. The Netherlands: Thanksgiving

Before heading to the New World, many of the Pilgrims who went to America spent just over a decade in Leiden – a small city in South Holland. In the 17th century, they started as a group of religious separatists in England, who were unhappy with the Church of England's new direction. King James of England punished their rebellion with fines, imprisonment, and even execution. So they fled. After a brief stop in Amsterdam, they arrived in Leiden, where they were free to worship how they wished. Later, the Netherlands' economic instability and a desire for a more liberal culture led them to sail to America in 1620.

While in Holland, Leiden had provided the Pilgrims with a temporary safe haven that was much appreciated. Apparently, the Dutch thought pretty highly of the Pilgrims, too. Every year on American Thanksgiving Day, Leiden commemorates the religious refugees who lived and worked there centuries before. Residents of the city gather for a non-denominational service in honour of the Pilgrims' perseverance. There's no coma-inducing feast, but cookies and coffee are served.

4. Liberia: Liberian Thanksgiving

Liberia was founded in the 19th century by freed slaves from the United States. It may not come as a surprise, then, that the Liberian Thanksgiving shares similar traditions as the United States. The celebrations take place on the same day, however, noticeable differences lie in the food. Liberians eat cassavas instead of potatoes, and add spices to make the meat more flavourful.

5. Vietnam: Têt-Trung-Thu Festival

Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar cycle – usually falling at the end of September or the start of October, and always during the full moon, the Vietnamese recognise Têt-Trung-Thu as a time to give thanks and celebrate their families. The festival coincides with the end of harvest, and folklore states that because the parents were so busy working in the months ahead, the festival was started as a way to show appreciation to the children, shower them with love, and hold a candlelit procession at dawn in their honour.